Final week for applications to win funding for a community project in Mayo

Applications for the 2021 Killala Community Wind Farm Fund close on Thursday, October 7. The €30,000 pool of funding for Mayo is offering communities a chance to win up to €5,000 for their own local project.

This community fund aims to support local community groups, schools and organisations to build sustainable, thriving communities. It is hoped that by using these funds, local teams will either begin new projects or expand on existing projects, creating a positive social or environmental impact in their community.

Applicants can submit their own project once it addresses one of the fund themes, with up to €5,000 in funding available.

The fund is being administered through ChangeX, where thousands of local teams across Ireland have successfully started community projects.

Elena, who took part in a recent sustainability challenge, used her €1,000 funding to implement a pollinator plan in her neighbourhood in Dublin 15. “We have learned more about the need for this project and why it is so necessary, but the greatest impact of this project is the spirit within our community for our estate” said Elena.

She added: “This project has brought our community closer together in so many ways. We now have met a range of different neighbours that we never spoke to before. People are now taking much greater care of our green space.”

As a major owner of renewable energy infrastructure, Greencoat Renewables is fully committed to supporting and funding community initiatives to build a more sustainable and prosperous society. Extending their commitment beyond renewable energy assets, Greencoat Renewables strive to operate in a responsible and sustainable manner for the benefit of all their stakeholders and seek to be a best-in-class partner for those living in close proximity to the wind farms they own.

“Greencoat's commitment to a sustainable future extends beyond the renewable energy we generate. With community leaders having access to the ChangeX platform, we want to help foster new ideas and projects that leave a positive impact in the communities in which we are located,” said Greencoat’s Ben Brooks.

The funds are open to communities within a 10km radius of the Killala Wind Farm in north Mayo, owned by Greencoat Renewables. The fund themes are: energy, health and wellbeing, sports and recreation, culture and heritage, sustainability and environment, and education and access.

For applicants applying for funding for an existing community project, there will be a review process, and those applications that best fit the criteria will be awarded funding. Final applications must be submitted via www.changex.org/ie by October 7.